Utah Jazz vs Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Picks & Predictions
On Saturday evening, the Utah Hockey Club will face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in a non-conference matchup. Utah aims to end a three-game losing
Game outlook
On Saturday evening, the Utah Hockey Club will face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in a non-conference matchup. Utah aims to end a three-game losing streak while Pittsburgh looks to bounce back from losing four of their last five games. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. The game is set for 7:00 PM Eastern Time, with Pittsburgh opening as the betting favorite at -110 and the current line standing at Utah -135.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Jazz -135 | Penguins +115
Spread: Jazz -1.5 (+188) | Penguins +1.5 (-225)
Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Pittsburgh will win straight-up is 53%.
Utah Jazz
The Hockey Club suffered a 1-0 loss to the Bruins in Boston, marking their third consecutive defeat. Despite a strong performance by Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka, who made 30 saves, the team's struggling offense was unable to find the back of the net on 21 shots. Utah failed to convert on all four power play opportunities, reflecting their league-low power play percentage of 12.7%. Injuries, including goaltender Connor Ingram's day-to-day status, have added to the challenges faced by the team, which is currently ranked 24th in offense and defense with an overall record of 7-9-3 this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins Analysis
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been struggling in recent games, losing four out of their last five matchups. Despite taking a 2-0 lead into the third period against Tampa Bay, they ended up losing 3-2 in overtime. Goalie Tristan Jarry made several key saves, but the team's defense has been a concern, giving up three goals or more in four of their last five games. Head coach Mike Sullivan emphasized the need for more effort and attention to detail from his players. Additionally, RW Kevin Hayes remains on IR but is expected to return soon. The Penguins currently have a power ranking of 26 and rank 22nd in offense and 32nd in defense, with an overall record of 5-6. In their last three matchups, Utah has won two out of three games against Pittsburgh.